Innovative Transitions: Nick Ensley

A typical 26 year old, except that two years ago a car crash left him paralyzed from the neck down and lives in a "skilled nursing facility". Yet, with the help of caring people, innovative asset building strategies, and Starbuck's- Nick is earning his way towards independence.

Like many people in their mid-20’s, Nick Ensley enjoys BBQs, having beers with friends, the Seattle Mariners and his job at Starbuck’s corporate office in Seattle. Yet, unlike most 26 year olds, Nick lives at Seattle Medical and Rehabilitation Center, which is a skilled nursing facility. On March 30, 2005, Nick was in a car crash that resulted in C4-5 quadriplegia- he was paralyzed from the neck down. At that time, Nick was a geology student at the University of Washington in Seattle and was working retail at a local Starbucks. After 92 days in the hospital, then moved to what Nick describes as a “ really horrible” nursing home for two months, and then finally to the skilled nursing facility where he resides nearly two years later. To Nick, he is grateful to be in a better place than the first facility; but says sarcastically that his current living situation is “not exactly ideal”.

From the moment after his injury, Nick knew he wanted to go back to work. Howard Schultz, founder and former CEO of Starbucks visited Nick while he was still in the hospital and told him that he would have a job at Starbuck’s whenever he was able to work. In August of 2006, Nick went back to work as a Customer Service Representative In Supply Chain Operations. In total, Nick has worked for Starbuck’s for 7 years and truly gives them credit for motivating him to really start living again.

There were quite a few major barriers that stood in Nick’s way before he could return to work- not the least of which was the near constant Seattle rain. Nick needed to have a job that would allow him to work from the facility, but also wanted to work in an office environment as well. In order to work from the facility, Nick was going to need some serious Assistive Technology to set up an office that would work with his disability. The burning question was how to pay for the equipment.

According to Medicaid guidelines in Washington state, disabled nursing home residents get to keep only $53.68 of their entire benefits check unless it is “earned income” and there is a plan in place for the individual to moved into a “less restrictive environment”- then Nick keeps $549.32 to use for whatever he chooses- except saving any amount over $2,000 (the asset limit on Supplemental Security Income). At this point, Nick and his case worker from Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Claire Trammel thought he was stuck- never able to save for the equipment he needed to work which would allow him to one day move into a place of his own.

Claire called in Abby Cooper, who just happens to be an exceptional problem solver for DVR, but is also a leading national expert of Individual Development Accounts and asset building techniques for people with disabilities. Through Abby’s ingenuity, they came up with what hopefully is just the first step in Nick’s transition plan. To buy the necessary equipment for a home office, the Washington Assistive Technology Foundation provided a low-interest loan for 1/3 of the total price, DVR paid for 1/3, and Starbuck’s paid for 1/3 of the accommodations. In addition, the Washington State IDA program is one of the only states that allows the purchase of Assistive Technology, which will be used to pay off 1/3 of the loan. In the end, Nick will pay 1/6 of the total price allowing him the flexibility to go back to work. Nick hopes to return to school to complete his degree and possibly pursue an advanced degree in business or finance. With a little luck, a lot of hard work and advocates willing to explore innovative options, Nick Ensley is well on his way to living the kind of life that all people deserve.